What is the sales tax rate on cars in Florida?

Florida's sales tax on vehicle purchases is 6%, which is the state's standard sales tax rate. However, the total tax you pay at purchase often depends on your county—many counties in South Florida add a discretionary surtax on top of the state rate. For example, Broward County adds 0.5%, Miami-Dade adds 1%, and Palm Beach adds 0.5%, meaning your effective rate could be 6.5% to 7% depending on where you buy and register the vehicle. The sales tax is calculated on the vehicle's selling price and is typically collected at the dealership or broker when you finalize the purchase. One thing buyers often overlook: if you're trading in a vehicle, Florida allows you to subtract the trade-in value from the selling price before calculating sales tax. This can save you several hundred dollars. For example, if you buy a $15,000 car and trade in a $3,000 vehicle, you only pay tax on $12,000. Make sure your broker or dealer applies this correctly—it's called the "trade-in tax credit" and is automatic in Florida, but you want to verify it's on your paperwork. If you're buying through a broker like Elite Edge, the sales tax process works the same way—the dealer handling the transaction collects it. The advantage of using a broker is that we shop real dealer inventory and multiple lenders, so you get a transparent deal without markup. To understand your exact tax based on your county and trade-in situation, reach out at (954) 907-2386 or use the 60-second Pre-Qualify at eliteedgeautobroker.com/PreQualify.

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